Filling-replenishing loom.



No. 637,470. 'Patented Nov. 26, 190|.

H. w. wYMAN.

FILLING REPLENSHING LOOM.

(Application led Aug. 23, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

ma nomus Partis co., Puma-umu.. wnsnwnon. n. c.

Patented Nov. 26, 190|.

HQW. WYMAN. FILLING REPLENISHING LOOM,

' (Application med Aug. 2s, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

1m: Nonms crans co4, moro-uma.. wAsmnmon. D, c.

UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE YV. WYMAN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FILLING-'REPLE'NISHING LOOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,470, dated November 26, 1901.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE WINFIELD WY- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Worcester, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Automatic Filling Replenishing Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts. I

This invention relates more particularly to the so-called feeler type of automatic loom wherein the filling-replenishing is controlled as to its occurrence by or through a feeler, Which intermittingly feelsthe filling in the shuttle, means being provided for effecting, through the feeler, the operation of fillingreplenishing mechanism before the complete exhaustion of the llingin the shuttle. A loom of this type is shown in United States Patent No. 665,559, granted to me January 8, 1901, wherein a feeler is yieldingly sustained in neutral position to coperate with the lling in the shuttle, one having a magnetic and the other a magnetized portion, which coperate upon predetermined exhaustion of the illing to effect lling-replenishing. A very practical and successful arrangement comprises a solenoid-magnet, the core of which constitutes the. feeler, the neutral position of the latter being yieldingly maintained by the Well-known action of such a magnet upon its core, said magnet being included in and energized by a suitable electric circuit. On alternate beats of the lay the filling in the shuttle engages and moves the feeler in one direction from neutral position, return to the latter being edected by the action of the magnetic iield of the coil, the shuttle having movable therewith a metallic body so arranged that magnetomotive action of the feeler in a direction opposite filling-induced movement will be effected when the desired exhaustion of the lilling is attained. This movement of the feeler changes it from neutral to active position as the filling-replenishing is effected when the feeleris moved into active position, and one arrangement illustrated in said patent provides for a metallic band upon the filling-carrier in the shuttle, said band being normally covered by the filling. Exhaustion thereof to a predetermined extent exposes the Application filed August 23, 1901. Seria-11%. 72,990. (No model.)

` to take place between the band and the feeler to secure the desired result above referred to. In actual practice I have found it highly desirable to return the feeler to a definite or accurate neutral position after filling-induced movement, so that the filling-engaging portion of the feeler will always start from a xed point when engaged by the filling, and I have also found it in some cases desirable to prevent premature movement of the feeler into active position, or, in other Words, to vary the sensitiveness or responsiveness of the feeler to magnetomotive action. By the latter terni I mean the motion imparted to the feeler by cooperation thereof with a metallic body moving with the shuttle, one being magnetic and the other magnetized to change the feeler from neutral to active position.

My present invention has for its object then means to definitely position the feeler after filling-induced movement thereof and also to vary the sensitiveness of the feeler in accordance with the degree of filling exhaustion required.

Other novel features of my invention will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top or plan View, centrally broken out, of a portion of a feeler-loom having automatic filling-replenishing mechanism with one form of my present invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a greatly-enlarged top or plan View of the feeler and the means for controlling it, the feeler being shown in neutral or normal position. Fig. 3 is a right-hand side elevation, also eularged, of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line n; Fig. l, looking toward the left hand. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in-plan of a portion of the connection including the detector between the actuator for the fillingreplenishing mechanism and the feeler.

The loom-frame l, breast-beam 2, lay 3, having a reed 4, the shuttle-boxes 5 and 6, the latter at the end of the lay adjacent the filling-replenishing mechanism having a slot 7 in its bottom, the picker-sticks 8, the weft or filling fork 9, its slide 10, the knock-olf lever 11, moved by the slide to release thc IOC) shipper 12 when the filling breaks tovstop the loom in usual manner, the cam-shaft 13,

having the cam 14 thereon, and the selfthreading shuttle 15 may be and are all of well-known or usual construction and substantially as in the patent referred to. The filling-replenishing mechanism shown in Fig. 1 as located at the right-hand side of the loom and comprisingssen tially, ahopper or feeder 16 to contain filling carriers 17 andv the transferrer 1S to transfer the latter singly to the shuttle at the proper time, the controlling rock-shaft 19, having fast thereon an upturned arm 20, and the weft-hammer 2l, vibrated by the cam 14, are also substantially as in said patent, the connections between the rock-shaft 19 and the transferrer being omitted for the sake of clearness of illustration and becausev such connections are old and well known in automatic lling-replenishing looms of the type as, for instance, in United States Patent No. 529,940.

In the structure herein shown each ot' the filling-carriers 17 is provided with a band or metallic body 22 (see Fig. 1) at the left hand,

which band or body is preferably magneticl and located near the base 23 of the llingcarrier, the filling normally covering said metallic body 22 until the filling has been Woven od in the operation of the loom to a predetermined extent to expose the said body before complete exhaustion of the filling. The shuttle 15 is provided in one of its side walls with an opening 24, which will be opposite the metallic body 22 when the filling-carrier is in the'shuttle, and when the latterv is in the outer or left-hand shuttle-box 5 said opening 24 will register with an opening 25 in the front wall 26 of such shuttle-box to permit the entrace into the shuttle of a feeler to feel the filling and to ble moved by engagement with the lling on each alternate beat of the lay. As in my Patent No. 665,559 re-V ferred to, I herein employ as the feeler a metallic bar or core 27, which is guided and sustained loosely lwithin an insulated coil of wire constituting a solenoid-magnet 28,which c is rigidly secured to a stand 29, mounted on the breast-beam of the lay in such position that the feeler will enter the aperture 25 in the shuttle-box 5 at each forward beat of the lay, the solenoid-magnet being includedby its terminals 30 and 3l in an electric circuit (not herein shown) to energize the coil. The

feeler is longitudinally vibratableor movable in the magnetic field of the coil, the latter constituting means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral or normal position, such position being a defined position under ordidiately tend to' return the feeler to its neutrai-position, which may be termed a balanced position. The operation of the feeler herein is, broadly, precisely such as is fully described in my said patent, the filling-induced movement of the feeler from neutral position being effected on every alternate beat of the lay until the filling has been exhausted sufficiently to expose the magnetic body 22 moving with the shuttle, and at such time the magnetomotive action between such body'and the feeler will cause the latter to be moved rearwardly as the lay recedes to move the feeler from neutral to active position, and by means to be described such active positioning of the feeler is made effective to cause the actuation of the filling-replenishing mechanism.

In actual practice it has been found that the feeler displays a tendency to vibrate back and forth from its neutral position when removed therefrom in a series of strokes of gradually-decreasing amplitude, and When in ruiming the loom at high Vspeed the centering or positioning o f the feeler in neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof is interfered with by these vibrations, and I have herein provided means independent of the supporting means for the feeler to return the latter to a definite neutral position,.

thus preventing the vibration referred, to and thereby insuring the position of the fillingcontacting portions of the feeler at a fixed point each time it is engaged by filling in the shuttle.

In the present embodiment of my invention the outer end of the feeler is provided with a collar or head 32, and in alinement with the outer end of the feeler I have mounted a slidable plunger 33, mounted in bearings 34 35 of a stand 36, mounted to rock on a Vertical fulcrum 37, adjustably secured to an extension 38 of the supporting-bracket 29, the said fulcrum passing throng-h a slot 39 in said extension and being secured in adjusted position by a suitable check-nut 40. The plunger 33 is provi-ded with a collar 41, which` is normally held against the bearing y35 by a spring 42, surrounding the plunger and abutting at its outer end against a hollow screwstud 43, screwed into the bearing 34, and in which stud the outer end of the plunger 33 is adapted fto slide. By means of the stud the tension of the spring will be regulated to increase or decrease the action thereof upon the plunger, and by moving the fulcrum 37 of the swinging stand 36 in or out the bearing 35, which forms a stop for the inward movement of the plunger, is adjusted to denary circumstances; but the feeler can move outwardby engagement with the filling in the shuttle, or it may move inwardly under.

the influence of a magnetic body-such, for instance, as the band 22 on the lling-carrier-and in either case, as in my said patent, when the feeler-is released the magnetism exerted by the current in the coil will immetermine the inner end of the stroke of the plunger. New when the feeler is moved outw'ard by engagement with the filling in the shuttle it acts upon the plunger 33 and moves it outward against its spring 42, compressing the latter, so that as the lay goes back the feeler will be retracted bythe action of the magnet to its neutral position, and in addi- ICO IIO

IIS

tion the spring 42 will expand and will also act upon t-he feeler through the plunger 33 to retract said feeler to a definite position, and if the momentum of the feeler on such inward movement thereof should be sufficient to carry it a little beyond its exact neutral position then on its return, which of course occurs instantaneously, it will be stopped by striking the inner end of the plunger 33 in the desired definite position. This prevents any of the objectionable vibrational movements to which I have hereinbefore referred yand accurately positions the feeler for the next cooperation thereof with the filling. It will be obvious that by the adjustment of the swinging support 36, hereinbefore described, the fixed neutral position of the feeler can be adjusted as may be necessary.

I have also found it desirable in some cases to restrain the feeler from movement from neutral to active position while a considerable quantity of filling remains on the Iillingcarrier when there is sufficient magnetomotive action between the feeler and the magnetic body on the filling-carrier. It is well known that the interposition of a number of layers of filling between the two metallic bodies 22 and 27 will not act as an insulator against magnetic action, and `it is usually desirable that the feeler shall not be moved into active position until it can contact with the metal body movable with the shuttle. I have therefore provided means for restraining or retarding the movement of the feeler under magnetomotive action to accord with the practical surroundings, so that the active positioning of the feeler shall not take place until the predetermined exhaustion of the filling has been effected. One embodiment of such retarding or restraining means is herein shown and comprises a friction-surface 44 on the inner end of the swinging support 36 to bear against one of the sides of the feeler-head 32, the support 36 being acted upon by a plunger45, sliding through a hollow screw-stud 46, screwed into a sleeve-like s'upport 47 on the bracket or stand 29, a spring 48 being interposed between the head of the plunger 45 and the inner end of the screw-stud 46. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be manifest that the normal action of the spring 48 is to press the friction-surface 44 against the plunger-head 42, and this retarding or frictional action upon the feeler can be regulated by adjusting the screw-stud 46 in or out, a suitable check-nut 49 maintaining the screw-stud in adjusted position. The adjustment is so made that the magnetomotive action will not operate to move the feeler into active position until the practical contact of the feeler and the metallic body moving with the shuttle, the resist-ance or retardationexerted upon the feeler by means described being sufficient to restrain the feeler from movement into active position until the desired time. This refinement or adjustment of the action of the feeler may be said to vary its sensitiveness or responsiveness to magnetomotive action, and by such refinement of action the extent to which the filling is to be exhausted before effecting the change can be brought down to very fine limits.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that Athe swinging support 36 is beyond the fric- 35, arm 34, and finger 37 in my prior patent,

and in place of such devices I have pivotally connected at 52 a rod 53 to the swinging support 36, the free end of the rod entering -a guideway 54 in an arm 55, (see Figs. 1, 4, and 5,) pivotally connected at 56 with the upper end of the arm 20. The end of the rod 53 which enters the guideway 54 constitutes what may be termed a detector, as by its abnormal position, which is attained when the detection of the predetermined exhaustion of the lillin g is effected, it will coperatewith the actuator or weft-hammer. The latter is provided at its upper end with a branch 57, having pivotally connected therewith at 58 a rod 59, which slides back and forth in a guideway 60 in the arm 55, the guideways 54 and 60 intersecting each other and being located substantially at right angles, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and the rod 59 sustains the arm 55 in position. Now so long as the parts are in normal position, as shown in the drawings, the rod 59 will slide backhand forth in the guideway 60 at each vibration of the actuator or weft-hammer 2l; but upon movement of the support 36 in the direction of the arrow`5l, which takes place when the feeler 27 is inactive, the movement of the rod 53 in the direction of the arrow 5l moves the free end thereof, or the detector, as I have termed it, into the path of the vibrating rod 59, so that at the next stroke of the latter toward the front of the loom it will move the arm 55 forward to swing outwardly the upturned arm 20 and rock the shaft 19 in the direction of the arrow 6l, Fig. 4, to thereby effect through the intervening means the operation of the lling-replenishing mechanism. After the illing has been replenished or changed by the insertion of a fresh supply in the shuttle in the apparatus herein illustrated the next engagement of the lling by the feeler 27 will move the latter outwardly, so that its head 32 will act upon the cam-face 50 and swing the support 36 to the left, viewing Figs. l and 2, into normal position, to thereby reset the parts and at the same time withdrawing the detector end of the rod 53 from engagement IOO IIO

with the vibrating actuator. Lugs or stops 62 63 on the stand 29 serve to limit the swinging movement of the support 36.-

It will be manifest that the device for returning the feeler to a definite neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof and also the device for varying the sensitiveness or responsiveness of the feeler may be used with equal effect should the feeler be 1o yieldingly maintained in neutral position by oppositely-acting centering-springs, as shown y in the modification in my patent referred to.

I have herein shown one practical embodiment of my invention Without attempting to describe or illustrate various changes or modifications which may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what 2o I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a feeler intermittingly engaged and moved from neutral position by the filling in the shuttle, means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position, a device to independently effect return of the feeler to definite neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof, and magneticallyoperating means to move the feeler from neul.tral to active position upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to thereby effect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism. 2. ln a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a feeler intermittingly engaged and moved from neutral position by the filling in the shuttle, means to yieldingly 4o sustain the feeler in neutral position, an adj ustable device to independently effect return of the feeler to definite neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof, and magnetically-operating means to move the feeler from neutral to active position upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to thereby eect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism.

3.' In a loom provided -with filling-replen- 5o ishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a feeler intermittingly engaged and moved from neutral position by the filling in the shuttle, means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position, a re- 5 5 tracting device having a fixed stroke, to independently eect return of' the feeler to neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof, and magnetically-operating means to move the feeler from neutral to active' position upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to thereby effect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism.

4. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a longitudinally-vi- 'bratable feeler to intermittingly engage and be moved by the filling from neutral position,

means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neu'- tral position, a spring independent of said means to effect return of the feeler to such position after filling-induced movement thereof, and magnetomotive means, operative upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to move the feeler from neutral position and thereby effect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism.

, 5. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a longitudinally-vi-4 bratable feeler to intermittingly engage and be moved by the .filling from neutral position,

means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position, a sliding retracting device to act upon and effect return of the feeler to neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof, a spring to actuate the said device, an adjustable stop to determine the length of the active stroke of the latter, and' magnetomotive means to move the feeler from neutral into active position upon exhaustion of the filling to a predetermined extent, to thereby eect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism. Y

6. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply'of filling, a feeler intermittingly engaged and moved from neutral -position by the filling in the shuttle, means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position, a spring independent of such means, to effect return of the feeler to neutral position after fillinginduced movement thereof, means to vary the tension of the spring, and magnetomotive means,operative upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to move the feeler from neutral to active position, to thereby effect the operation of the fllling-replenishing mechanism.

7. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of fillinga feeler to be intermittingly engaged by the lling and moved thereby from neutral position, means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position and to return it to such position when moved therefrom, Amagnetomotive means to effect movement of the feeler from neutral to active position upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to thereby effect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism, and means to vary the responsiveness of the feeler to magnetomotive action.

8. In a loom provided With filling-replen-` ishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a feeler to be intermittingly engaged by the filling, and moved thereby from neutral position, means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position and to return it to such position when moved therefrom, magnetomotive means to effect movement of the feeler from neutral to active position upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to thereby effect the operation of the fillin g-replenishin g mechanism ,and means IOO IIC

to interpose a variable resistance to the movement of the feeler dne to such magnetomotive action.

ingly sustain the feeler in neutral position .and to return it to such position when moved mittingly engaged by the filling and moved thereby from neutral position, means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position and to return it to such position when moved therefrom, magnetomotive means to eect movement of the feeler from neutral to active position upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to thereby effect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism, an independent device to return the feeler to neutral position afterfillinginduced movement thereof, and means to vary the responsiveness of the feeler to magnetolnotive action.

1l. In a loom provided With filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to con tain a supply of filling, a feeler to be intermittingly engaged by the filling, and moved thereby from neutral position, means to yieldingly sustain the feeler in neutral position and to return it to such position when moved therefrom, magnetomotive means to effect' movement of the feeler from neutral to active position upon predetermined exhaustion of the filling, to thereby effect the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism, an independently-acting spring to return the feeler to neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof, and means to restrain to a variable degree the movement of the feeler from neutral to active position.

l2. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a feeler to be intermittingly engaged by the lling and moved thereby from neutral position, one being provided With a magnetic and the other with a magnetized portion, means to yieldingly sustain thefeeler in neutral position and to return it thereto when moved therefrom, and a spring independent of said means, to effect definite return of the feeler after filling-induced movement thereof, magnetomotive movement ofthe feelerinto active position due to exhaustion of the filling to a predetermined extent eecting the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism.

13. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, a yieldingly-sustainedI feeler capable of being moved With the shuttle by magnetic action from its normal neutral position into active position when by or through a definite exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle a fresh supply is required, fillingsupplying mechanism operated by movement of the feeler into active position, and means to retard such movement of the feeler in accordance with the desired degree of filling exhanstion.

14. In aloom, a shuttle adapted to contain asupply of filling, and a magnetic body movable with the shuttle, a solenoid-magnet containing a magnetized core constituting a filling-feeler and balanced in neutral position in said solenoid-magnet, the feeler being moved from neutral to active position by coperation with the magnetic body upon a predetermined exhansfion of the filling in the shuttle, filling-replenishing mechanism operated by active positioning of the feeler, and an adjustable frictionl device to normally coperate with the feeler and prevent premature movement thereof into active position.

l5. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a supply of filling, and a magnetic body movable with the shuttle, a solenoid-magnet containing a magnetized core constituting a filling-feeler and balanced in neutral position in saidsolenoid-magnet, the feeler being moved from neutral to activey position by coperafion with the magnetic body upon a predetermined exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle, filling-replenishing mechanism operated by active positioning of the feeler, a friction device to normally cooperate with and prevent premature movement of the feeler into active position, and yielding means independent of the solenoid-magnet to return the feeler to neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof.

16. In a loom, a shuttle having a fillingcarrier provided with a magnetic body normally covered by filling,com bined with a movable magnetized body adapted to be moved in one direction by engagement with the lling on the fillingcarrier, and oppositely movable When said magnetic body is exposed by exhaustion of the filling to a predetermined extent,and means to prevent premature magnetomotive displacement of the feeler.

17. In a loom, a shuttle having a fillingcarrier provided with a magnetic body normally covered by filling,combined With a movable magnetized body adapted to be moved in one direction by engagement with the filling on the filling carrier, and oppositely movable when said magnetic body is exposed by exhaustion of the filling to a predetermined extent, independent main and auxiliary means to return the feeler to definite neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof,and means to normally eoperate with the feeler and prevent premature movement thereof due to magnetomotive action.

18. In a loom provided with filling-replen- IOO eration with said magnetic body upon exhaustion of the filling to a predeter'mined cxtent, a retarding device to coperate with said magnetized body, and to prevent premature movement thereof due to magnetomotive action', a vibrating actuator for the filling-replenishing mechanism, and a detector maintained out of the path of movement of said actuator by said retarding device until the feeler is moved into active position.

19. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a shuttle having a fillingcarrier provided with a magnetic body normally covered by filling, combined with a movable magnetized body adapted to be moved in one direction by the filling on the filling-carrier, and movable'in the opposite direction by or through cooperation with the magnetic bodyof the filling-carrier when the latter is exhausted by a predetermined ein haustionot` the filling, a spring-operated retarding device to prevent premature magnetomotive action of the feeler, a vibrating actuator for the filling-replenishing mechanism, and a detector operatively connected with the retarding device and moved thereby into engagement with said actuator When movement ofthe feeler into active position releases the retarding device.

20. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, means to control the time of operation thereof including a solenoid-magnet containing a magnetized core constituting a feeler, and balanced in neutral position in and by said magnet, a shuttle provided with a filling-carrier having a magnetic body normally covered by filling, the feeler being Vmoved into active position by exposure ofthe magnetic body due to exhaustion of lling to a predetermined extent, to thereupon coperate with the feeler, a swinging support having a friction-shoe thereon, a spring to normally press the shoe against the feeler to prevent premature movement thereof, in to active position, a retracting spring-actuated plunger slidably mounted on said swinging support and adapted to return thel feeler to neutral position after filling-induced movement thereof, a stop to limit thestroke of said retracting device, an actuator for the filling-replenishing mechanism, and means movable into position to operate with said actuator by or throughA swinging movement of said support, to thereby effect'the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism.

21. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, means, including a detector, to control its operation, a vibrating actuator adapted to coperate with the detector to eiect the actuationof said means, a shuttle to contain a supply of filling, and a yieldingly-sustained feeler Vto intermittently engage the lling in the shuttle, said feeler governing the detector and preventing its coperation with the actuator until predetermined exhaustion ot' the filling.

22. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism controlling. means therefor, including a rock-shaft having an attached rocker-arm, apguide-arm pivotally mounted on the rocker-arm, and a detector movable in said guidefarm; a vibrating actuator movable in the latter transversely to the detector, to at times coperate with the latter and move the guide-arm to turn the rock-shaft, a shuttle to cntain a supply of filling, and a yieldingly-sustained feeler to intermittingly engage the filling in the shuttle, the feeler governing the detector and preventing its Inovement into the path of the actuator until predetermined exhaustion of the filling.

MARGARET A. DUNN. 

